Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, also known as TMJ, is a common disorder of the jaw in which a problem with the temporomandibular Joint causes the muscles in the jaw become increasingly tight over time. It is estimated that around 10 million Americans are currently living with TMJ in one form or another, though the number of patients that have TMJ but fail to have it treated by a medical professional is impossible to discern. In an age when cancer and obesity are the most concerning health topics TMJ isn’t a major concern for most Americans until it is too late. The frustrating part is that many cases of TMJ can often be prevented, or at the very least managed more efficiently, if more people were aware of the TMJ risk factors. While TMJ isn’t limited specifically to those that exhibit common TMJ risk factors, those that have one or more of the following risk factors are much more likely to develop TMJ at some point in their lives than those that have no risk factors.
One of the most common risk factors for TMJ is a misaligned bite. A misaligned bite occurs when the lower and upper jaw do not fit together as they should and the teeth do not align. Most people that have a misaligned bite are born with it, though it is possible to develop it due to injury, and live with it for a long period of time. While a dentist will typically notice this condition early on, if it is not causing any negative symptoms or discomfort chances are no action will be taken to correct it. A misaligned bite can lead to the development of TMJ due to the fact that it puts an increased strain on the jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joint over time and even such basic actions as chewing can eventually lead to the development of TMJ. In some cases, a misaligned bite will only be fixed permanently after the need for TMJ surgery to repair the temporomandibular joint has arisen.
Another one of the most common TMJ risk factors is bruxism, more commonly known as grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw, which is a tick or bad habit that many people deal with throughout their life. Bruxism on its own is not generally considered a big deal, though it can damage your teeth over time, but it can lead to more concerning problems, such as TMJ disorder. Like TMJ, bruxism is attributed to a variety of different causes, though the most agreed upon is considered to be psychological. Many people that develop bruxism may not even know that they have it, especially if it only occurs while they are sleeping, so it can be rather hard to manage. Much like a misaligned bite, bruxism can lead to the development of TMJ over times as it puts added stress and strain on your jaw muscles and the temporomandibular joints. Those with bruxism are often prescribed a bite guard or dental guard to wear at night to prevent the teeth from rubbing together, though it can also be used to prevent continuous clenching and grinding that will lead to TMJ. Unfortunately, patient with TMJ often develop bruxism in response to the initial disorder because grinding the teeth and clenching the jaw is often one of the best ways to provide quick relief from the pain and tightness in the muscles. Like a misaligned bite, the damaged caused by bruxism over time may eventually need to be treated with TMJ surgery in order to restore the temporomandibular joints and the jaw muscles to full working order.
A TMJ risk factor that many never consider is arthritis, primarily because the condition is most often associated with the hands and extremities. Both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can result in severe damage to the joints in the body overtime and while the joint in the hands are often the most noticeable the temporomandibular joints are in no way immune to this debilitating disease. Unlike a misaligned bit and bruxism, both of which can be dealt with through rather simplistic means, arthritis can never be completely prevented and can often require some sort of TMJ surgery to reverse years of damage to the joints in the upper jaw. While there is no 100% effective way of getting rid of arthritis or even preventing it from attacking the joint in your jaw, knowing that arthritis is a TMJ risk factor can help arthritic patients be on the lookout for initial signs of TMJ.
TMJ Surgery terms:
- TMJ risk
- ridding tmj joint of arthritis
- arthropathy in the jaw
- tmj surgery misaligned
- the risks of temporomandibular surgery